Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

IMK Agroholding reduced its net profit by 44.6%

IMK Agroholding made $6.28 million in net profit in January-June 2023, which is 44.6% less than in the same period last year, and is largely due to higher logistics and distribution costs and cheaper agricultural products, the company said in a report on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on Thursday.

According to the report, the holding’s revenue increased by 61.6% to $71.95 million, including exports that increased by 41.2% to $58.9 million.

At the same time, the revaluation of biological assets and agro-products in January-June this year brought 23.8% less than in January-June last year – $23.11 million.

And while the increase in cost of sales was not as significant as revenue, as a result, gross profit increased by only 8.6% to $32.54 million.

Due to the growth of logistics and distribution costs 2.4 times (up to $13.24 mln), the operating profit decreased almost 2.1 times to $8.65 mln compared to the same period last year.

At the same time, the situation was partially offset by positive exchange rate differences of $0.60 mln in January-June this year against exchange rate losses of $2.55 mln in the same period last year.

Normalized EBITDA for the first half of the year amounted to $17.06 mln, which is 41% less than in the first half of last year, due to higher selling expenses and lower crop prices.

It is specified that the main revenue of IMC in the reporting period brought sales of 329.11 thousand tons of corn – $62.37 million and 40.42 thousand tons of wheat – $8.93 million.

Net cash flow from operating activities in the first half of 2023 amounted to $12.6 million, while it was negative $7.68 million in the first half of 2022.

Although the volume of investments decreased by 30% to $2.66 mln, due to a significant increase in outflows from financial operations the net cash flow was still negative – $1.81 mln, which is, however, many times better than in the first half of last year – $10.06 mln.

As of the end of June this year, IMC’s current liabilities fell to $57.22 million ($66.84 million a year earlier), while non-current liabilities fell to $117.87 million ($155.20 million).

The company’s free cash flow at mid-year was $23.05 million, compared with $24.86 million at the beginning of this year and $17.36 million a year ago.

IMK is an integrated group of companies operating in Sumy, Poltava and Chernihiv regions (north and center of Ukraine). It controls 120.3 thousand hectares (120.0 thousand hectares under cultivation). As of June 30, 2023, the group operated in two segments: crop production and grain elevators and warehouses.

The agroholding’s net loss in 2022 amounted to $1.1 mln vs. net income of $78.7 mln a year earlier, with revenue down 37.3% to $114 mln. EBITDA tripled to $36.2 mln.

In the first quarter of 2023, IMC had a net loss of $4.10 mln, which is 2.6 times less than in the same period last year. The holding’s revenue increased by 11% to $41.96 mln. EBITDA for the quarter was positive and amounted to $1.37 mln against negative $0.13 mln in the first quarter of last year due to sales growth and stabilization of the hryvnia.

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Nova Posta has increased net profit almost fivefold

The net profit of Nova Posta LLC for the first half of 2023 amounted to UAH 2 bln 402.5 mln, which is almost five times higher than in the first half of 2022 (UAH 483.9 mln), according to the updated rating of the company at the level of “uaAA” from the rating agency Standard-Rating.

According to its report, Novaya Posta’s revenue for January-June increased by 83.9% to UAH 16 billion 743.8 million.

It also points out that the company’s EBITDA profit in the first half of 2023 also grew strongly – more than 2.2 times, to UAH 2 billion 910.1 million.

“The analysis of the statements for the first half of 2023 indicates: a high level of coverage of liabilities by equity capital, a very high share in the structure of equity capital of retained earnings, an increase in business volumes, weighty financial results, as well as a high level of coverage of the company’s liabilities by its income,” the rating agency noted.

It specified that at the end of the first half of 2023, such improvement of indicators allowed to increase the ratio of EBITDA to long-term and current liabilities from 14.33% to 28.04%, and the same indicator for EBIT profit – from 5.21% to 17.72%.

According to the publication, Nova Posta’s equity capital for the first half of 2023 increased by 36.9% to UAH 8 billion 918.6 million, while liabilities – only by 12.4% to UAH 10 billion 379.4 million.

It is indicated that the growth of equity capital, as in previous periods, occurred due to the increase in the volume of retained earnings in its structure: for the first two quarters of 2023, it grew by 37.1% and as of July 1, 2023, its share in the equity capital of the company increased to 99.6%.

According to the information, Novaya Posta’s accounts receivable increased by 46.5% to UAH 3 billion 303.6 million in the first half of 2023, while accounts payable increased by 18.1% to UAH 8 billion 592.0 million, and free cash flow increased by 12.6% to UAH 758.2 million.

Overall, the company’s assets in the first half of this year increased by 22.5% to UAH 19 billion 298.0 million, while fixed assets increased by 10.5% to UAH 7 billion 561.7 million.

Founded in 2001, Novaya Posta has more than 10,000 outlets and 14,000 post offices in Ukraine. It provides a full range of logistics and related services.

Two issues of the company’s bonds series “C” and “D” are currently circulating on the market with a nominal volume of UAH 800 mln each and an interest rate of 24% and 23% per annum, respectively, maturing in January 2024 and 2025.

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“Vodafone Ukraine” increased net profit by 3.4 times

PJSC “VF Ukraine” (TM “Vodafone Ukraine”), the second largest mobile operator in Ukraine, in January-June 2023 increased net profit by 3.4 times compared to the same period last year – up to UAH 2.266 billion, the press service of the mobile operator reported.

According to the interim consolidated financial report of the company, its revenue increased by 4.9% to UAH 10.404 billion, and operating profit – by 45.1% to UAH 3.712 billion.

It is indicated that the company’s OIBDA increased by 3% year-on-year to UAH 5.934 bln. OIBDA margin slightly decreased by 1 p.p. to 57%.

The company clarified that the jump in net profit was due to a decrease in foreign exchange losses due to the fixation of the dollar to hryvnia exchange rate by the National Bank since July last year.

In addition, in the first half of 2023, Vodafone Ukraine’s losses from the war decreased by 8.2 times – to UAH 116 million.

Subscriber base in the second quarter of 2023 remained stable – 15.2 million customers. “Decrease by 8% compared to the second quarter of last year due to a decrease in the number of mobile users due to active hostilities, inaccessibility of mobile networks in temporarily occupied territories and in the war zone, mass migration”, – explained in the press release.

It is specified that more than 2 million subscribers of “Vodafone Ukraine” remain abroad and continue to use the services of the company. At the same time, revenue from roaming services decreased by 6.5% – to UAH 446 mln, while the total revenue from mobile services increased by 12.3% – to UAH 8.1 bln.

The company’s ARPU increased in the second quarter to 108.4 UAH per month from 104 UAH in the first quarter due to an increase in mobile Internet penetration and usage volumes.

“Vodafone Ukraine” increased capital investments by 75% – up to UAH 2.231 billion, directing them to the renewal of destroyed infrastructure, operational repairs of the network and preparation for work in conditions of possible power shortages in the winter period.

In particular, 9.5 thousand base stations of the company were equipped with new batteries of a new type, which are less sensitive to voltage fluctuations in the network and frequent power outages, as well as have 2.5-3 times higher charging speed.

To ensure emergency power supply, the company has additionally equipped 1.12 thousand nodal technical objects with backup power supply by means of stationary generator sets and prepared 522 mobile generators, a reserve of diesel fuel and gasoline has been created for their operation. It is indicated that the company’s specialists are testing new solutions at a number of facilities using alternative energy sources, in particular, solar power plants and microturbine generators.

The text of the financial report emphasizes that as of June 30, 2023, Vodafone Ukraine was in compliance with all debt covenants. At the same time, the company remains concerned about the moratorium on cross-border currency settlements, which may cause future difficulties with the redemption in February 2025 Eurobonds for $ 400 million. In this regard, the company’s management is considering several options in case the moratorium continues to operate: in particular, refinancing at the expense of financial institutions, negotiating changes in the terms of bonds with holders of Eurobonds, the introduction of additional measures to manage and control cash outflows to maximize the company’s ability to meet its debt covenants.

“Vodafone Ukraine” provides 3G and 4G high-speed internet and fixed-line services, mobile communications and develops the Internet of Things (IoT), technologies and solutions for Smart City, big data analytics, financial and technological services, cloud services. Since 2019, the company is part of NEQSOL Holding group of companies of businessman Nasib Hasanov.

NEQSOL Holding’s activities cover oil and gas, telecommunications, construction and other high-tech sectors in the UK, USA, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, UAE, Bangladesh. The Group entered the telecommunications industry in the early 2000s.

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Bar Machine-Building Plant intends to allocate all of its net profit for 2022 to its business operations

PrJSC Barskyi Machine-Building Plant (Barmash, Bar, Vinnytsia region), a major Ukrainian manufacturer of equipment for the food industry, gas and electric boilers, plans to use its net profit of UAH 1.6 million in 2022 for business activities.

This is stipulated by the draft decision of the company’s general shareholders’ meeting scheduled for September 28, the agenda of which has been published in the information disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC).

In particular, the shareholders intend to amend the company’s charter and replace the management board with a new management board. In this regard, it is planned to terminate the powers of the Chairman of the Board Ilya Luka, his First Deputy Gennadiy Luka and members of the Board Vasyl Gontar and Oleksandr Lototskiy.

At the same time, it is proposed to elect Ilya Luka (CEO) and Gennadiy Luka (director) to the board, who, according to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs, are the ultimate beneficiaries of Barmash.

The Bar Machine-Building Plant produces, among other things, equipment for the alcoholic beverage, wine, oil and fat, canning, confectionery, and bakery industries, and since 2000, gas, electric, and solid fuel heating boilers under the ThermoBar brand.

According to opendatabot, in 2022, the company reduced its net income by 19.4% compared to 2021, while net profit increased to UAH 1.6 million from UAH 0.92 million.

According to the company, its assets amounted to UAH 94.29 million in 2022 (down 12.7%), including total receivables, which decreased by 36% to UAH 9.8 million. Current liabilities decreased by 7.2% to UAH 34.3 million, while long-term liabilities decreased by 14.4% to UAH 4.8 million.

Retained earnings amounted to UAH 2.52 million compared to UAH 0.92 million a year earlier.

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“Ovostar earned net profit of $20.6 mln

Ovostar Union, one of the leading producers of eggs and egg products in Ukraine, earned $20.63 million in net profit in the first half of 2023, while the same period in 2022 ended with a net loss of $19.78 million.

According to the group’s report on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, its revenue for the six months increased by 56.8% to $88.69 million, mainly due to higher prices for its products.

Gross profit in the first half of this year amounted to $26.99 million against a gross loss of $10.39 million last year, operating profit – $20.12 million against a loss of $17.57 million, and EBITDA – $21.7 million against a negative $15.5 million in the first half of last year.

It is indicated that such an increase in profitability was also achieved by reducing the cost of sales by more than half – from $47.8 million to $23 million – due to good feed prices and the devaluation of the hryvnia.

The group also reported that its total debt for the year decreased from $12.5 million to $2.5 million, while free cash flow increased from $3.7 million to $50.3 million, including $0.5 million to $24.7 million in Ukraine (including the equivalent of $7.6 million in hryvnia), $3.1 million to $21.2 million in Lithuania, and $0.02 million to $4.2 million in the UAE. As a result, the net debt increased from $8.8 million to negative $47.9 million. In particular, Ovostar has fully repaid its loans to Ukrsibbank and OTP Bank for $8.5 million.

According to the report, the share of egg sales in revenue decreased to 70% from 74% in the first half of last year, while the share of egg products increased from 26% to 30%. At the same time, the share of egg exports in total revenue increased from 23% to 36%, and the share of egg products exports increased from 13% to 18%.

“Against the backdrop of the ongoing Russian military invasion of Ukraine and the overall unfavorable situation in the national economy, the management decided to suspend the investment program,” the document also says.

As specified, in the reporting period, only minor investments were made in production facilities and infrastructure, amounting to $5.8 million compared to $4.3 million in the first half of 2022.

In the first half of this year, Ovostar withdrew from the International Food Trade company (British Virgin Islands).

In mid-June 2011, the group’s holding company, Ovostar Union N.V., conducted an IPO of 25% of its shares on the WSE and raised $33.2 million. The majority stake in the company is owned by Prime One Capital Limited, which is controlled by its CEO Boris Belikov and Chairman of the Board of Directors Vitaliy Veresenko.

“In 2022, Ovostar earned $6.09 million in net profit, which is 3.7 times more than in 2021. At the same time, revenue increased by 1.7% to $135.63 million.

In the first quarter of 2023, the group earned $8.98 million in net profit, while the same period in 2022 ended with a net loss of $16.44 million. Its revenue for the period increased by 70.7% to $47.30 million.

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Profit of Ukrainian banks for 7 months amounted to UAH 83 bln, which is 24.5 times more than in same period last year

The profit of operating Ukrainian banks in January-July 2023 amounted to UAH 83.2 billion, which is 24.5 times more than in the same period last year (UAH 3.4 billion), Bohdan Danylyshyn, a member of the National Bank of Ukraine Council, said on Facebook on Friday.

This figure is a record high in history: before that, the highest net profit of banks in pre-war 2021 was UAH 39.8 billion, compared to UAH 28.4 billion in 2020 and UAH 36.7 billion in 2019.

In addition, the banks’ profit in July was also a record – UAH 15.5 billion compared to the previous best figures of this year: UAH 14.1 billion in June and UAH 14.7 billion in January.

“Net interest income of banks for 7 months of 2023 amounted to UAH 111.3 billion (+40.7% year-on-year), net fee and commission income – UAH 29.4 billion (+16.3%), and along with the positive result of the revaluation of securities, these were factors in improving the financial results of banks,” Danylyshyn said.

He added that the amount of allocations to provisions for active operations, which in 2022 was the main factor in the deterioration of banks’ financial results (over UAH 120 billion), has remained moderate since the beginning of 2023 at UAH 4.9 billion.

Taking into account the data published by the Council member, in July, net interest income of banks increased to UAH 17.7 billion, net fee and commission income decreased to UAH 3.8 billion, and allocations to provisions increased by only UAH 0.3 billion.

“The return on assets of banks in January-June 2023 amounted to 6.8%, and the return on equity – 67.5%. Positive financial results allow the banking system of Ukraine to demonstrate high capital adequacy ratios, which in July amounted to 24.3% for regulatory capital and 14.8% for the banks’ core capital,” Danylyshyn summarized.

As reported, in 2022, Ukrainian banks reduced their net profit by 3.1 times to UAH 24.716 billion compared to UAH 77.376 billion in 2021.

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